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Random Thoughts about life in general, living in the big city of Toronto

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You are here: Home / Archives for Recreation / Vacation and Travel

Camping? Keep your batteries charged with Brunton’s Solarroll

September 13, 2007 by Tricia

I’m sure you realize by now that I love the great outdoors. I certainly talk about gardening, my love of canoeing and the various road trips that we go on often enough. I don’t however talk much about camping.

This is mainly because I haven’t actually been camping for a number of years. My husband is not really the camping type. He wouldn’t mind roughing it in a tent or trailer on the outside of town, but the idea of a trip deep into the woods isn’t his thing. I’ll get him camping at some point though or I’ll go with some friends as I miss the experience a great deal.

I do know that some of you that read this blog are avid outdoors men and women. Camping, hiking and so on, on your vacations and during the weekends.

Whether you are an adventurer who enjoys camping in the wilderness for two to four weeks at a time like our friend who goes to Labrador every year, or a weekend camper, I’ll bet that you find it hard to give up all of life’s modern conveniences while in the wilderness.

When you go camping or hiking do you bring a camera, video camera, radio, ipod or another type of multimedia player along with you? I actually know of one camper who brings a small television with her when she goes off on a trip with her luxury trailer! Perhaps you carry your cellphone or a satellite phone when you go camping just in case something happens?

Have the batteries ever run dry on any of these items when you’ve been camping? Perhaps leaving you in a dangerous position due to your sudden lack of ability to contact others? Maybe the vehicle you drove to your camping site battery died leaving you unable to start your car or truck?

If any of these things have happened to you in the past, or you don’t like the idea of them happening on future camping excursions, you should consider purchasing the Brunton Solarroll 9. It’s a flexible solar module that will allow you to run or keep the batteries charged for many of the items that I’ve mentioned above.

bruntonsolarroll.gif The Brunton Solarroll 9 is a 9 watt solar module that only weighs 10.6 ounces. When you consider how heavy batteries are, especially if you would need to bring several with you to keep various electrical items running, 10.6 ounces sounds pretty good doesn’t it? Especially if you’re backpacking! The 12″ by 40″ module rolls up and can easily be stored with your camping equipment in it’s convenient storage tube.

The solar module is waterproof, UV transparent and is extremely durable as it’s made with Tefzel Fluoropolymer. Not only has the Brunton Solarroll been made to withstand harsh conditions, but it’s composed of amorphous solar cells which are effective in low light conditions. Perfect if it ends up raining or if it’s very cloudy during your camping trip.

The solarroll includes a vehicle outlet cable and a multi-linking cable which can be used to link multiple units together for even greater output. It even has reverse flow protection.

The max output for a single unit is 9 watts (15.4 volts) making it ideal for either charging digital and video cameras or cell phone batteries or running them directly via the solar module.

This is actually Brunton’s most popular product, and as a result of it’s popularity and remarkable performance Brunton will be expanding their line of flexible solar modules this year to include alternative sizes and outputs.

Did you know that Ed Viesturs will be using the Brunton Solarroll 9 when he attempts to complete his Endeavor 8000 on his final summit, Annapurna next Spring? You certainly can’t get a better endorsement of a product than that! If this experienced mountaineer is assured of the Solarroll’s reliability then it must be a good product.

I know that the next time I’m going camping I’ll most likely have one or two of my digital cameras with me, our HD video camera, a cell phone, flashlights and some form of multimedia player. It would certainly be handy to have a solar charger with me. Heck, if I had a Brunton Solarroll I’d even take it out with me whenever I went on my photo expeditions and on road trips.

If you want to learn more about Bruntons Solarroll 9 or shop for great deals on Camping Equipment visit the FunDeals4U.com website. They have a great selection of tools, boating, electronics and outdoor products to chose from and they are all well priced.





Filed Under: Cool stuff, Recreation, Shopping, Supplies, Vacation and Travel, Wildlife and Nature Tagged With: 10 oz, 9 watt, amorphous solar cells, backpacking, batteries, battery, boating, Brunton Solarroll 9, camera, camping, camping equiptment, canoing, car battery, cell phone, cellphone, charge, deals, Digital, digital camera, durable, electronics, flexible solar module, friends, fundeals4u.com, greater output, harsh conditions, hiking, husband, ipod, kayaking, life, link multiple units, low light, mountaineer, multi linking cable, multimedia player, outdoor adventure, outdoors, performance, photo, Products, recharge, reliable, reverse flow protection, rock climbing, rolls up, satellite phone, solar charger, solar module, solar panel, tent, tools, trailer, tube storage, uv transparent, vacation, vehicle outlet cable, Video, waterproof, weekend, weekend camping

Want discount pricing when you book a cruise?

September 10, 2007 by Tricia

After my dinner boat cruise last weekend I think I can honestly say that I might actually take a holiday cruise one day.

You see, even though I’ve been around and even on water a good portion of my life it’s always been on smaller waterways. I’m a canoe enthusiast and I’ve canoed on creeks, rivers and small lakes. I’ve also white water rafted and white water canoed, but I’ve never spent much time in any type of boat on large bodies of water. Lake Ontario is huge. Some who’ve seen the photos I’ve occasionally included in my posts have thought that I live near the ocean.

It’s a lake, and last Saturday was my first time on a large boat on a large body of water. For some reason I’ve been nervous of being on large bodies of water. My sister has tried time and time again to get me to take a cruise with her. I’ve promised I would, and now after last weekends experience on a large boat I think I can do it.

Have you taken a holiday cruise?

I visited the Direct Line Cruises website and discovered that they list hundreds, if not thousands, of Discount Cruises from locations all over the world.

Direct Line Cruises has been in business for 12 years and in that time they’ve established themselves as a cruise-only agency that specializes in Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Norwegian cruises.

I’ve often thought that if I ever did go on a cruise I’d like to go on an Alaskan cruise. Of course I’d probably go on a Caribbean cruise as well.

One thing that I like about Direct Line Cruises, is that they just launched a brand new site on August 20th which gives site visitors the ability to book cruises directly from the site.

You can begin searching for a cruise to a particular destination right from the main page of the site, or you can click on one of the links or icons for specific types of cruises or destinations and go from there.

For example if I wanted to go on the 7 night Alaska round trip cruise from Vancouver, B.C with Norwegian Cruise Line, which is apparently has starting prices at only $599 per person, I could click on the Alaska Cruises icon on the main page of the site, find the cruise and cruise line that I’m most interested in in the listings, in this case the Norwegian Cruise Line Alaskan Cruise and then click the link for more information. From there I was taken to a page that lists all the different cruise departure dates and pricing for Interior, Oceanview, and Balcony cabins or even a Suite.

Once you select a departure date, for any of the various cruise listings of course, you’d just need to click on the “select” button to be taken to a page where you can learn more about the specific cruise and begin the booking process by listing how many people you’d be booking the cruise for and from there you’d be able to pick out exactly which type of cabin or room you’d like to stay in and so on. Of course you could also call the 1-800 number that’s listed at the top of each page to book your cruise with a Direct Line Cruises agent.

Near the bottom of the main page you’ll find listings for featured cruises and promotions, or you could simple visit the “Cruise Deals” page which is listed in the links in the left menu.

All cruises booked with Direct Line Cruises have free cruise cancellation protection policies. Of course there are specific conditions that apply to this free cancellation protection policy, but I’m pleased that they offer this service.

For a newbie to cruises like me the articles entitled “Cruise Facts” and “Cruise Lines” as well as the ability to get free cruise brochures are very helpful.

We’ll get me on a cruise at some point. I’m sure of it. Perhaps, if I become a cruise enthusiast, we could even set up a cruise for bloggers at some point?

In the meantime, if you’ve been thinking of taking a cruise vacation why not check out the Direct Line Cruises website and see if you can find any deals and or some fantastic cruise destinations?

Filed Under: Entertainment, Home and Lifestyle, Recreation, Services, Vacation and Travel Tagged With: Alaskan cruise, articles, blogger, blogger cruise, boat cruise, book online, booking, cabin, cancellation protection, Caribbean Cruise, Celebrity cruises, cruise, cruise facts, cruise lines, cruise only agency, cruise vacation, deals, departure, destination, Direct Line Cruises, discount cruises, featured cruise, free, holiday, holiday cruise, information, interest, listings, live booking, Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian cruises, offer, prices, promotions, round trip, Royal Caribbean, search for cruise, suite, vacation, water

Trying to decide if we’re going to Las Vegas in November

August 31, 2007 by Tricia

I’m still trying to decide if I’ll be going to Las Vegas in November for P0stiecon or not. There hasn’t been as much information about the event as I’d like so I’m having trouble deciding whether we should go or not. I’ve also been sicker than normal lately and if that continues there’s no way I’ll be able to go.

I’ll have to decide soon though as we’ll need to book a hotel and flight if we’re going. There’s two conventions together and hey it’s Las Vegas, so I’m sure there’s lots of conventions going on there all the time.

If we do go to Las Vegas I hope we’ll be able to see some sights while we’re there. I’d love to go to Caesars Palace and catch some Vegas shows too. Neither Chris or I are much into gambling, but you never know we might try our hand at it.

One reason that I’d like to go is to meet several of the new blogging friends that I’ve made over the past nine months or so. It’d be great to get together with some fellow posties.

Who else is going to to the Blog World Expo and P0stiecon?

Filed Under: Entertainment, Great Sites, Home and Lifestyle, Recreation, Vacation and Travel Tagged With: blog, Blogging, Chris, friend, friends, gambling, hotel, hotels, information, Las Vegas, sight seeing, Vegas shows

Lodging Hunt is another great site to find deals on hotel rooms

August 17, 2007 by Tricia

logo.jpg

I hate to say it, but summers almost over. Hopefully many of you managed to get away for long weekend or at least short vacations throughout the summer.

I find that people always talk about dream vacations and they often involve leaving the country traveling to Europe or some exotic land. I’ve done it myself, but you know what? Some of the best vacations I’ve had have been in my own Country and often even not all that far from home.

Almost everyone takes a vacation every now and then – even me, so I figured that you might be interested in perhaps taking a look at, and maybe even bookmarking the Lodging Hunt website.

Why? Well the Lodging Hunt website is a great place to search for hotel and motel reservations. Lodging Hunt not only has listings for big hotel chains, but they also list smaller chains and individual independent hotels that you won’t find listed on the big reservation sites. I know from my own experiences that some of the smaller hotels can be quite nice and you might find that they offer a more personal touch that will end up topping off your vacation experience.

You’ll find listings for all of the US states at Lodging Hunt. Just go to the main page and select the state that you’d like to search for lodgings in and then narrow your search down to a particular city or area of the state. It’s that easy.

For example if you were perhaps going to take a trip to Las Vegas you might visit the Nevada Lodging page to find some great hotel deals. Then, perhaps if part of your holiday plans include a trip to the Grand Canyon you might visit the Arizona Lodging listings to find a hotel near the Grand Canyon.

I was pleased to see that there are also hotel lodging listings for all of the Canadian provinces and territories, and there are also listings for what I believe are all of the countries in Europe.

The owner of Lodging Hunt states that he works hard to search for the best rates at big hotel chains like Best Western so you are bound to find some very good accommodation deals.

Another thing that I like about the Lodging Hunt website is the fact that if you were to select a state page, say the Illinois Lodging page for example, you can select the city that you’re searching for lodgings in and your search results will be listed from lowest price lodging to highest priced lodgings. From there you can click on hotels that interest you.

Many of the hotel listings contain photos of the rooms, and you’ll also find information such as check in and check out times, a listing of the hotels amenities and even a short discussion of local attractions near the hotel.

On the main page and on each hotel page you can type in the city that you wish to find lodgings in and the dates that you’ll want to make reservations for in order to narrow the results to hotels that have openings during the time period you’re interested in. Once you find lodgings that suit your needs you can book it right then and there.

Your summer vacation may be over, but do bookmark this site and visit it the next time you are planning a vacation or traveling. I’m sure you’ll find a good deal.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Home and Lifestyle, Recreation, Services, Vacation and Travel Tagged With: Arizona, book room, Canada, canadian, chicago, deal, deals, Europe, holiday, hotel, hotel chain, illinois, information, listings, Lodging Hunt, Nevada, photos, planning, province, reservations, reserve, State lodgings, summer vacation, travel, vacation, visit, weekend

All alone

August 15, 2007 by Tricia

Yesterday I was supposed to go to Brantford with my husband to see his family and spend some time with his brother before he goes back to Chicago, but I had yet another bad night and Chris went on his own.

So I’ve been home alone all day yesterday and all night.

That’s ok. I don’t think I make very good company when I’m not feeling well. I spent a good portion of the day lying on the couch mindlessly watching TV. I only do that when I’m really not feeling up to much else and I just hate it.

I’m hoping that I’ll start to feel a bit better this week. Chris took this whole week off work so I’m hoping we can do something fun on our own and maybe get a bit more work done in our garden.

One side effect of my brother in laws visit was that he brought a big bag of Cheetos with him. Now I haven’t had Cheetos for a long time! I love them – they don’t love me, but I love them. So … I’ve been snacking on them here and there.

Hey it’s hard to resist a snack that you like when you haven’t had it for years! LOL

Filed Under: Chronic Pain, Entertainment, Family, Health Fitness and Beauty, Home and Lifestyle, Inflammatory bowel disease, Recreation, Television, Vacation and Travel Tagged With: brother, chicago, Chris, company, couch, Family, garden, holiday, home, husband, off work, on vacation, plants, vacation, visit, watching, watching TV, week off

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